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    GRAPHITE ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Graphite

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    Pasta Primavera
    Shirley D.

    Let start with the good stuff. This new beautiful restaurant opened in January 25. Great atmosphere for that special celebration or date. Stephanie was our waitress and she was so accommodating, was able to answer all our questions about the menu items and was an absolute pleasure. The drink special was excellent. We were a table of 6 and everyone enjoyed their meal and had a good time. Many ordered the French onion soup and really liked that. Unfortunately, I ordered the pasta primavera and it was overly salty. The side Graphite salad was original and tasty. Complimentary rolls. The pasta primavera with no protein added was $29 which was one of the lowest items on the menu, $7 more than the online menu lists. In my opinion everything was overpriced. We had a good time, but I don't think we will be back because of the prices.

    Sean A.

    Have been for breakfast and supper now. Both times have not disappointed. It's a new restaurant in Columbia IL tied to a hotel in an old grade school complex that's been renovated into a great venue. Nice clean restaurant. Great menu options with a play on school names for drinks/meals. Service is generally quick and pleasant. Food has been great both visits. Would definitely recommend. Especially the Crème Brûlée

    Espresso martini
    Courtney N.

    Wow! We stopped in to try their brunch after it was recommended by a few friends! I love how they have everything decorated, it feels very upscale but still inviting! I tried the bourbon pecan French toast and an espresso martini, they were absolutely wonderful!! I also got to sample the deans list breakfast, which was also delicious. I am looking forward to returning for lunch/dinner to try the rest of the menu! The prices were fair for a good breakfast, it was not more than any other breakfast spot in the area!

    French onion soup
    Keagan M.

    The service, food and ambiance is perfect for a quality night out. It's a great addition to Columbia to celebrate special occasions or treat yourself. Our party of 9 absolutely loved our experience and food! Highly recommend ordering the French onion soup. We can't wait to return to check out the new patio.

    Biscuits and gravy, double shot cappuccino, wonderful peaceful view.
    Michael H.

    Great fast and friendly service. I would say the best biscuits and gravy in town. Definitely a spot worth checking out. I will be back.

    Loaded baked potato side.
    MaryAnn B.

    A welcomed restaurant in the Columbia/ Waterloo area. Upscale in menu choices, service, ambiance and yet very comfortable setting. Came for dinner with friends from St. Louis and they were happy and impressed with their experience here. Looking forward to breakfast, brunch here another time.

    Tomato Bisque Soup
    Wanda H.

    EVERYthing was wonderful! The cocktails were DELISH, the food was SO tasty, and the service was great!!! The ambiance is wonderful, and you can learn a bit of history before entering the restaurant. It's definitely not a cheap place, but well worth the money. Classy, yet not stuffy. Well worth checking out!

    Dessert!!!!!

    Lovely brunch topped off with a shared crème brûlée This is a true gem in our home town

    incredible Crème Brûlée
    Allison W.

    We have been to Graphite on three occasions, and the food and drinks have been consistently impressive. Delicious appetizers (cheese curds), soups, and salads all with fresh ingredients. Gnocchi and salmon were great, as were the steak and potatoes. Fun cocktail menu with school theme or seasonal theme! Service is always friendly and wait staff keep you informed. They even brought out a special dessert for our friend who was celebrating a birthday. We showed up with a party of five on a Wednesday night (without a reservation, not knowing there was a steak special and that it would be crowded!) and we were still seated quickly and given a choice of booth or table, inside or outside. The booths are large and comfortable. I will say that one downside of the outdoor seating area is the nearby dumpster, which is only separated from the patio by a partial wall. When we visited during the summer months, we were able to smell it and for that reason opted to eat indoors instead. (The waiter was very kind & understanding about our need to move though.) Overall, we love this place for a night out with friends & plan to keep coming back.

    Creme brulee
    Lauren W.

    Graphite is a great upscale dining option & wonderful addition to our local restaurant scene. We were very impressed with both food & beverage offerings. Bartenders & hostesses were super friendly!

    Joan E.

    We had breakfast here on the patio ( the dining room is super nice, but the weather was so nice)! Margo was our server- she offered great recommendations. We loved the Blackberry Brie croissant with thick cut bacon! It was delicious! This is a great place! Go out of your way to stay at the principal hotel and visit graphite for breakfast , lunch, dinner or a night cap

    Fried Chicken

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    2 years ago

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    The Barn - Inside looking towards piano ( fireplace is really TV)

    The Barn

    3.5(4 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    The Barn is my favorite go-to spot when back in the area for visits! The owner is friendly and…read morehelpful, the menus light up so you can see them in the darkest of places (great for our parents) and the selection of alcohol is extensive for southern Illinois small town bar. We love the patio, especially when there is live music! You can book events for free at The Barn- just ask!

    As someone who really tries to support local businesses and share positive experiences with them, I…read moredon't find joy in posting my experience yesterday at The Barn. I am only posting this as a warning for anyone else that wants to book a party with them. I have been a supporter of The Barn since the day they opened. It was my first choice when I wanted a cocktail in town. I booked my 30th birthday party with Steve back in November. I've been chatting with him about my party every time I saw him in between that time. We messaged back and forth about the logistics and how I would get the whole upstairs room. He also didn't ask me to pay a deposit and promised that he would put me down on the calendar. Fast forward to yesterday, I went up there to start decorating at 3 pm. I started walking up the stairs and noticed that someone else's decorations were already set up for a 40th birthday party. I immediately was like, Steve that's not my party. He then says, "Oh, you're downstairs!" I immediately knew that he had no idea what was going on. I was extremely disappointed but I decided to make it work. He said he would shut the bar down at 6 for my party He helped me set up a table for our food and I told him I'd be bringing in a balloon arch with a backdrop around 6. My husband spent the whole day cooking food for our party and I spent the day making sure everything would be perfect. When we got there at 6, the whole parking lot was full. We had to park on the street and upon our arrival we saw that the entire bar downstairs was full of people and then I saw a girl wearing a sash that said "my 21st birthday." This was a completely different party from what was going on upstairs. He not only double booked us but he TRIPLE booked us. He came outside acting as if he had no idea what was going on. He said he thought this party was us. I'm like... how do you get that confused? You knew my party started at 6:30. He tried to have us move the party outside. I did not want to do that because we would have to go in and out for drinks. The woman that planned the 21st was so nice to me and even offered to combine our parties. She told me that he did the exact same thing to her, she thought she would get the upstairs as well. He also told her that she wouldn't need to pay anything at all to have her party there, but told me that I would have to pay a fee the day of. At that point, I didn't want to give them my business anymore. I was over it. Thank God we were able to move my party to Top Shooters and they were able to accommodate us. We obviously weren't able to bring any of the food that we made, but it was better than nothing. Steve at The Barn needs to hire someone else to plan parties if he is unable to plan and coordinate them himself. Unfortunately this experience was a learning lesson for me. Anytime I plan or book a party somewhere, I need to make sure there's a contract in place. I hope that everyone reads this learns from me and does not book with The Barn.

    Photos
    The Barn
    The Barn - One of the tablets opened

    One of the tablets opened

    The Barn - Laminated sheet for cocktails and beers

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    Laminated sheet for cocktails and beers

    Top Shooters - Fried pickles

    Top Shooters

    3.8(43 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    •$

    One of my first times stopping in at what's quickly becoming a St Louis landmark with a large…read morefollowing on Instagram. Coming to this Columbia, Illinois hot spot and enjoying the atmosphere you can see why. Be prepared to seeing it totally packed on the weekends. I wanted to see the two bartenders I personally consider the stars of the venue Abigail and Kassidy. As beautiful and talented as you obviously see they are it's their guest service and personalities win the day. Two sweeter and more genuine individuals I challenge you to find anywhere. I'm going to be 100% honest I actually do get nervous coming into see them. It's hard to imagine seeing two angels on Earth. All the girls rock and provide premier service. I lived in St Louis for 14 years and I must say this would definitely be my spot if I still lived in the area. With Abigail and Kassidy it's like coming back and seeing friends I've known. I get that impression it's their style with all guest. I travel the country and these two are my two favorites anywhere. I'd highly recommend if you're a first timer you request them. They're hard working and get their business done. And tip the well!!! They deserve it. Thank you. Michael J Beal Clearwater, Florida.

    If a top notch sports bar is your jam this is the place. Golf simulators, outside volleyball,…read moredartboards, pool tables. Plus the food and drinks are tasty. Very friendly staff.

    Photos
    Top Shooters - Covered patio w bar

    Covered patio w bar

    Top Shooters - Plenty to eat and share

    Plenty to eat and share

    Top Shooters - Beer bucket

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    Beer bucket

    Good Company - Good Burger

    Good Company

    4.5(186 reviews)
    13.2 mi•Forest Park Southeast
    •$$

    We were looking for a lunch bite to eat for a hungry carnivore adult, a gluten intolerant adult and…read morea vegetarian adult. After looking at a handful of menus on the street, we de died on Good Company. Service was great. Very attentive. They immediately asked if we had any dietary issues and then promptly after hearing out needs, made a handful of recommendations. We started with the cauliflower. It was excellent the light sauce and pine nuts really made this dish top notch. The vegetarian and GF adults then split the Caesar salad and the squash seasonal salad. Both were so flavorful, filling and entirely unique. If you're a salad eater, I'd highly recommend either one of these. The carnivore in our group ordered the Italian beef with French fries. Unfortunately they were out of the Italian beef so he had to settle on the wings. The wings were a solid lunch after an appetizer, but the sauce was not what was expected. Overall, the menu is simple, maybe 15 items in total and they probably need to have more for carnivores who are looking for something other than a hamburger and not too heavy for lunch. But for the other 2 in our group, we walked out super satisfied.

    First time in and I was underwhelmed by the service but the food was good and at the end we got a…read moreglimpse of what service could be. We arrived for a late lunch around 3:15ish. There were a few people in the dining area and a person at the bar. Our host welcomed us and asked if we had a reservation, we did not. He led us to a table and indicated our server would be with us shortly. We reviewed the menu and reading about them and their philosophy, the menu, the drink options and so forth. One of the staff behind the bar came and took our order. I stuck with water and we ordered chicken wings to share, I also got the Cucumber Tomato Salad for my meal, it sounded so fresh! Chicken wings came out fairly quick; delivered by the host who seated us. They were really good. The skin was crisp and the buffalo sauce a good flavor. We both enjoyed them. They came with a Green Goddess dressing, I am not a fan of that dressing, but the wings were good on their own. My salad came out and it was as refreshing as it sounded! It was the half salad, and it was a generous portion. Cornichon, Oven-Roasted Tomato, Crispy Shallot, Chopped Egg, and Dill Buttermilk dressing. It was perfectly dressed, and great proportions on the ingredients. My daughter ordered the Patty Melt advertised on Union Loafers bread and that clinched it for her. She indicated it was very good. The food was delivered by someone other than our server. After our food was delivered no one came back to check on us and we waited quite a while before we could get someone's attention to bring boxes and our check. While we were waiting the employees were setting up for dinner service, adding mini aperitif style glasses and then a couple came in for an early dinner and their server was so awesome, he came over and chatted with them offering samples of some kind of alcohol, he was so friendly! If we had been a little later and had him for a server, it would have changed our whole experience! We both commented that on our way out after we had eventually got settled up

    Photos
    Good Company - Dining Area

    Dining Area

    Good Company - "Cinnamon roll" dessert! Amazing

    "Cinnamon roll" dessert! Amazing

    Good Company - Oaxacan old fashioned

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    Oaxacan old fashioned

    Off Elm

    Off Elm

    4.6(46 reviews)
    13.1 mi

    Cute little spot. Off elm near 44. We came without…read morereservations but were able to grab the bar by the window. Have an extensive cocktail menu. Ordered a couple drinks. Server checked on us & made recommendations on drinks when asked. They have some unique cocktails which was nice for a change from the standard cocktail. They had fun ice cubes with the name etched in them.

    Off Elm? Yep, it's just two doors down on Big Bend and they're laughing and having a party…read more The staff of bartenders are from STL Barkeep, so you instantly know the cocktails are masterfully made. I came for a HH and enjoyed three different cocktails. My first was a Gold Rush. It's basically a Bees Knees with Vodka instead of Gin. It was light and refreshing, making it a great start. The second cocktail was one of my all-time favorites, a Old Fashioned. I can honestly say, it was one of the best, if not the absolute best one I have ever had. I finished the HH with a Espresso Martini. It was a good ending to my HH. They use a Cold Brew instead of true espresso, so it had a milder coffee taste. My nosh while drinking was a, Jalapeño Popper Dip. It was okay, in my opinion, it did not fit the description on the menu. Especially, the type of chips described. My friend ordered, The Small Board and it was fantastic and a good value. Our bartenders were friendly and as I stated earlier, they are masters of their skill. What stopped them from getting a 5 Star review, is simple. They do not offer a Martini on their Happy Hour Menu. I'm a Martini Man and that disappointed me, but it wont keep me away, it just keeps them short of 5 Stars.

    Photos
    Off Elm - Bar

    Bar

    Off Elm - Bar area

    Bar area

    Off Elm - Bar area

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    Bar area

    Bemiston Cocktail And Social Club - Chai colada

    Bemiston Cocktail And Social Club

    4.9(9 reviews)
    16.2 mi

    An intimate, low-key, and aesthetic spot to enjoy a nice meal and a good drink. My friend and I…read morecame here one evening for dinner and drinks. Clayton was busy, so street parking was hard to find. Once seated, we were greeted with friendly service and were brought water. I ordered a ginger beer with cranberry juice added to it for a refreshing mocktail. We ordered the Squeaky Cheese to start, the golden-brown cheese curds were gooey and had the perfect crunch. They were served with marinara and a serrano dill aioli. The aioli had just the right amount of spice, complementing the dill flavor. The marinara was saucy and also good. I ordered the Bacon Jam Burger with fries. The burger was juicy, sweet, and had a nice crunch. The bacon jam was subtle, but it enhanced the overall flavor. My only complaint was that the bottom bun came out a bit soggy causing the burger to lose structure as I ate it. The fries were thin and crunchy! I had a lovely experience and would like to come back to try a cocktail!

    Great ambiance at Bemiston Cocktail and Speakeasy last night! Look for the red light outside the…read moredoor just to the left of Louie's Wine Dive on North Bemiston Avenue. We came with friends to wait out the rain after dinner at a cafe Manhattan. Everyone had a cocktail: Aviator, classic Cosmopolitan, specialty gin mixed drink with cherry syrup and Crown Royale with Coke. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable about the specialty drink menu too. There is a delicious looking dinner menu and we all agreed we will come back for dinner soon!

    Photos
    Bemiston Cocktail And Social Club - Spiced Pear bourbon based cocktail

    Spiced Pear bourbon based cocktail

    Bemiston Cocktail And Social Club
    Bemiston Cocktail And Social Club - The bar

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    The bar

    Cafe on the Abbey

    Cafe on the Abbey

    4.2(70 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    Meeting friends here for brunch was a pleasant experience. The menu is varied enough to offer both…read morebreakfast and lunch options, with plenty of choices and nothing imaginative. The prices are very reasonable. When we asked about specialty coffee drinks, our server showed us an electronic tablet-- we had to pass it around to read our options. They were all very sweet concoctions named for desserts, and the ones my companions chose were indeed so pumped with syrup and flavors and sprinkles that the taste of coffee was nowhere to be found. Our food was just fine. The waffle was sweet and fluffy. The Berry Salad was exactly as described: iceberg, lettuce, berries, pecans. The berries were fresh; the chicken was heavily seasoned (mostly salty and saturated) and the poppyseed dressing was very sweet. The quiche had plenty of spinach in it but was rather rubbery (I know quiche can be tricky-- it has a really long cooking time so it can't be made to order, and rewarming does it no favors) and the potato soup was okay. Both the salad and the quiche/soup combo had a croissant on the side; they seemed similar to the ones purchased by the dozen at Costco. Mine seemed dry on the outside with a faint moldy taste in the bottom. The patio was very pleasant, and inside looked cozy. The staff did a great job of making everyone feel welcome and keeping our glasses refilled and such. There's a big parking lot adjacent, though many of the spots say they're reserved for a different business. I saw that high chairs are available. Gendered restrooms are inside. The place accepts cash and credit cards.

    We had high hopes for Cafe on the Abbey, but our visit was not a pleasant one. Based on other…read morereviews it may be an anomaly? So perhaps we'll visit again, however, if there weren't so many positive reviews we would never go back. Our coffee flight was probably the worst we've ever had. They were supposed to be iced but came out lukewarm and burnt tasting. We couldn't taste a difference in any of the flavors-likely because it was so burnt tasting that's all we could taste. Neither of us liked our food. My husband's pancakes were dry and he said they tasted like they had been microwaved. My healthy bowl tasted like mostly old/not fresh ingredients. The Brussel sprouts were supposed to be shaved, but were instead halved and appeared/tasted like they were from the prior day. The Parmesan cheese was also prepackaged and not freshly grated, and for the price we paid ($50+) we didn't expect to be served food low-quality food. The only picture I took was of our coffee. Our server did the bare minimum. They weren't rude, but also weren't friendly. We ran out of Cholula sauce and she grabbed one from another table with people sitting there. Overall a very poor experience. Based completely on this one experience we would never return.

    Photos
    Cafe on the Abbey
    Cafe on the Abbey
    Cafe on the Abbey - Enjoy inside or outside on this lovely patio!

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    Enjoy inside or outside on this lovely patio!

    Graphite - tapasmallplates - Updated September 2026

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